"All of a sudden, it's gotten really hard to escape climate change. Not the problem itself — that threat has been looming for a while now. But discussions about global warming have hit a fever pitch in recent months, often overwhelming other issues in Congress, on television and on the campaign trail."
"The Trump administration is again seeking severe cuts to the U.S. Energy Department division charged with renewable energy and energy efficiency research, according to a department official familiar with the plan."
"Three decades ago, congressional auditors slammed an obscure EPA policy for effectively allowing companies to circumvent air pollution control requirements. But the policy, which defines "ambient air" for regulatory purposes, remained in place. Now, at industry's prompting, the Trump administration is poised to dramatically expand its scope."
"As the Trump administration races to roll back Obama’s most ambitious climate rule, it lobbies to get industry on board".
"Climate change is causing the U.S. military to alter its plans in the Arctic as Russia takes advantage of a warming world to deploy radar and personnel in thawing regions, two generals told a Senate panel yesterday. The assessment comes as the White House is recruiting researchers to raise uncertainty about climate science and the risk that rising temperatures pose to national security."
"Elevated levels of lead have been found in schools across the US, alarming experts who say it is particularly harmful to children".
"Cleaning up and protecting U.S. drinking water from a class of toxic chemicals used in many household items could cost in the tens of billions of dollars nationally, including $2 billion for the Department of Defense alone, witnesses testified Wednesday before a House panel urging the federal government to move more quickly on the cleanup."
"In Richmond late last month, the James River flooded to more than 16 feet, its highest since 2010. The state health department closed sections to shellfish harvesting because floodwaters likely contained disease-causing bacteria and viruses."
"Fresh off his Senate confirmation, Andrew Wheeler has brought on a slate of new senior officials at EPA, including a public affairs chief, the agency announced this morning.
Corry Schiermeyer will be EPA's associate administrator for public affairs, starting March 18.
"Senate Democrats have figured out how to dodge Republicans’ attempt to trap them on the Green New Deal: Vote “present,” then attack GOP lawmakers as anti-science climate deniers."
